Molding-machine.



. PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904. E. L. STEVENSON.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 25 1904 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fi QZ.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 18, 1904.

E. L. STEVENSON.

MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25; 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 24 51 H mm;

Y/minnow:

No 777,445. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. B. L. STEVENSON.

MOLDING- MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 25. 1904.

( I! i I hug i Q N I I [(7 I If UNITED STATES Patented December 13,1904.

EDWARD L. STEVENSON, OF OINOINNATITI, OHIO.

IVIOLDlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,445, dated December13, 1904.

7 Application filed .pril 25, 1904:. Serial No. 204,804.. (No mocleL) Toall 1072 0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. S'rnvnNsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements inMolding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in molding-machines, theconstruction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 isavertical longitudinal sectional View of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a topplan view thereof; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4L, an end elevation;Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, anenlarged vertical sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, atransverse sectional view on the line7 7 of Fig. 2, the parts beingshown on a somewhat enlarged scale; Fig. 8, a horizontal sectional viewon the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9, a vertical sectional view showingamodified form of construction; Fig. 10, a vertical sectional View on theline 10 10 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 a plan view of a modified form of themold boards or sides.

The main object of my invention is to provide an expansible mold formolding-machines, the size of which may be varied as desired, theopposite sides being maintained in parallelism at all times. Theconstruction is such that the sides and ends of the mold are always heldin a vertical position with relation to the bed of the machine, so thatthe parts may be quickly clamped or locked together and to the bed whenthe desired adjustment as to width and length of the mold has beenobtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel device forelevating the false bottom or palate to a point slightly above the upperedge of the mold, so that the palate, with the molded block thereon, maybe moved laterally from the apparatus, as is now the usual practice.

The advantages of the construction referred to, as well as of certaindetails thereof, will be hereinafter more fully set forth Referringfirst to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, A A indicatethe end frames or supports of the machine. each of which carries ahorizontally-disposed member B, having a track or way C upon its upperface and being likewise formed with a downwardly-extending flange or webD. Mounted upon said members B are two slides or supporting members E Eof such length that they project slightly beyond the members B for apurpose which will presently appear. Members E are provided withsuitable grooves upon their under faces, the grooves conforming withways U of members B, so that when the parts are unclamped said members Emay be moved laterally upon the members 13 to any desired extent, theguides or ways maintaining the same in parallelism.

J-shaped clamping members F are carried by the outer ends of members EE, the lower end of each clamping member extending inwardly below theweb or flange D. The parts are drawn together by camlevers Gr, pivotallyconnected'to the clamping members F and bearing upon the members E. Eachsupporting member E is provided in its upper face with an undercutgrooveor channel H, which preferably extends from end to end of saidmember. Themembers B form, in effect, the bed of the machine, thesupporting members mounted thereon in turn carrying the adjustable mold.Mounted upon each of said members E and extending longitudinally thereofare the mold sides .I. I, each of which is provided with a lateralextension or foot-piece J, overlying the undercut groove or channel H. Aseries of holes or openings is formed in each footpiece J, and bolts K(see Fig. 6) extend through said openings, the heads of the bolts beingplaced in the grooves or channels H. To the upper end of each bolt ispivotally connected a eam shaped locking-lever L, which when turned intoan upright position, or that shown in the drawings, serves to draw thebolt upwardly and to force the memberJ downwardly upon the supportingmember E, thereby securely clamping the side of the mold in its adjustedposition.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8 the sides I are straight throughouttheir length and coact with end plates M. Each plate M is pro vided witha lateral offset or bearing-plate N, which bears against the inner faceof the corresponding side piece. In other words, the end plates areL-shaped, and the foot of the L bears directly against the inner wall ofthe side I.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, the bearing plates or membersN of the end plates abut against the adjacent side pieces I. Thisarrangement facilitates the adjustment of the mold and the clamping ofthe parts together. The clamping of each bearing member N to thecorresponding side I is effected by means of a U-shaped bail or clamp O,(see Fig. 4,) one end of which is slotted and con nected to the endplate M by a bolt I The other end of the clamp is provided with acam-lever Q, which bears against the outer face of the side wall ormember I. The other end of each side member I is secured to thecorresponding end plate or member M by means of a U-shaped clamp R,which is slotted at one end and connected to the side member by a boltS. The opposite end of the clamp is provided with a cam-lever T, whichbears directly against the outer face of the end plate M. In order toprevent separation of the side members I and end plates II when theparts are released for adjustment, (either to increase or diminish thesize of the mold,) fingers U are employed, said fingers being connectedto castings V, carried by the side members I.

In increasing or diminishing the size of the mold it is not essentialthat the clamps 0 be released, though it may be preferable to do this inorder to more readily center the mold over the palate-raising mechanism,which will now be described.

As is usual in this class of machines, I propose to employ mechanism forbodily elevating the palate, with the molded block thereon, to a pointwhere it may be moved laterally over the upper edge of the mold to anysuitable conveying device, the mechanism being likewise employed toregulate the depth of the mold. The mechanism which I employ for thispurpose comprises a cross-beam W,

the ends of which are provided with inter as the U-shaped clamps looselyengage the opposite members the parts may be moved to nally-threadedopenings through which pass screw-shafts X, each shaft carrying abevelpinion Y at its lower end. Said pinions are in mesh withcorresponding gears or pinions Z, mounted upon a shaft (0, which isjournaled in suitable bearings formed in the end supports A. Ahand-lever b is loosely journaled upon the outer end of the shaft andcarries a spring-pressed locking-dog 0, which engages with a tootheddisk or wheel (Z, secured upon the shaft (4. By means of this lever andwheel the shaft may be rotated in either direction, so that the beam IVmay be raised or lowered,

as desired. Any suitable mechanism may of course be employed foractuating the shaft, power devices falling within the limits of myinvention.

Carried by the beam is a series of posts or uprights a, each having atits upper end a bearing-platef, said plates, as will be seen uponreference to Fig. 2, being elongated. The palate or false bottom restssquarely upon these bearing-plates f, and when the beam is elevated thepalate will be moved out of the mold, so that the block mounted thereonwill not be distorted or broken.

The uprights 0 are adjustable in the cross- .beam, so that theirposition may be shifted as the form of the mold is changed, or some ofthem may be removed if the mold be contracted, so that a less number ofsaid bearingplates f is required. So, too, plates of larger size may beemployed.

It is apparent that the mold may be readily adjusted to blocks ofvarious sizes. Assuming that it be desired to expand the mold from theadjustment shown in Fig. 2, the operator will release the end clamps F,clamps O and R, and also by releasing levers L the lockingbolts K. Themembers E may then be moved upon the guides or ways of supportingmembers B. The sides I of the mold will be carried with the members E,and as a consequence the ends M will be drawn through the fingers U. Thesides may then be moved endwise, one to the right and the other to theleft, to extend the length of the mold, and after the parts are in thedesired positions the various clamps are secured in place. Thebearingplate or offset N of each end will of necessity keep the membersM in parallelism and likewise at right angles to the sides I. Thus itwill be seen that the sides and ends are maintained at all times inproper relation to each other and also retained in vertical position.

In Fig. 11 a modification of the mold is shown. In this instance theside members I are each provided with an integral lateral offset orbearing-plate I each end plate M also having a lateral offset orbearing-plate M Suitable clamps are employed to maintain the parts inproper position. This construction is the equivalent of that shown inthe figures heretofore specifically referred to. So long secure thedesired adjustment, although not permitted to become entirely separated.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a further modification of the invention is illustratedwherein instead of employing screws to elevate the false bottom orpalate a cam g is mounted upon a shaft lb, the cam working inconjunction with a roll i, carried by the lower end of avertically-movable member j, which bears against the under face of thepalate or false bottom k. A lever Z is secured to the outer end of theshaft, said lever carrying a locking-dog or detent m, which works inconjunction with a segment 12, having a series of openings therein forthe reception of the dog or detent m. The shaft 72/ is also providedwith a ratchet- Wheel 0. and locking-pawls 1) and q, mounted upon theframe, work in conjunction therewith and prevent the parts from movingbackward when the dog or detent m is released previous to throwing thelever in one or the other direction. It is to be understood, of course,that one or the other of the paws p Q will be thrown out, according asthe palate is raised or lowered. This construction is shown simply toillustrate the fact that mechanism other than that above described maybe used in conjunction with an adjustable mold of the form herein setforth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In amolding-machine, the combination of a suitable bed; a pair of supportingmembers adjustably mounted thereon; mold sides secured upon saidsupporting members and adjustable lengthwise thereon; and mold ends adjustably and securely connected to said mold sides, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a molding-machine, the combination of a suitable bed; a pair ofsupporting members mounted and movable thereon toward and from eachother; a mold side mounted upon each of said members and adjustablelongitudinally thereof; means for clamping said sides to said supportingmembers; and mold ends adjustably connected to said mold sides,substantially as described.

3. In a molding-machine, the combination of a suitable bed; supportingmembers mounted thereon and movable toward and from each other; moldsides mounted upon said members and movable longitudinally thereon;means for securing said sides in position; and mold ends each providedwith a lateral offset or bearing-plate at one end, which bears againstthe face of the adjacent mold side; and means for securing said sidesand ends in position.

4:. A mold comprising imperforate side and end members, said end membersbeing each provided with a laterally-extending bearingplate at one endonly, which plates bear against the adjacent side members; and means forclamping the bearing-plates to the side members, said means acting uponthe outer faces of said parts whereby a wide range of adj ustment issecured, substantially as described.

5. A mold comprising imperforate side members; imperforate ends eachhaving a bearing-plate or offset extending from one extremity onlythereof, said bearing-plates resting against the faces of the adjacentside members; and clamps embracing said bearing plates and side membersoutside of the mold proper, substantially as described.

6. In a molding-machine, the combmation of a suitable bed; supportingmembers mounted thereon and movable toward and from each other; meansfor securing said members to the bed in their adjusted positions: moldsides mounted and movable longitudinally upon said supporting members;means for securing said sides in their adjusted positions; mold ends,each of which has a lateral offset or hearing plate which bears againstthe face of the adjacent mold side; and clamps for securing the moldsides and ends together.

7. In a moldinganachine, the combination of a suitable bed; sup iortingmembers ad justably mounted thereon; and a mold adjustably mounted uponsaid supporting members, said mold comprising vertically-disposedmembers having lateral offsets which bear against the faces of theadjacent mold members; and means for securing the mold members togetherat their points of junction, substantially as described.

8. In a molding-machine, the combination of a bed; supporting membersarranged thereon; an adjustable mold carried by said supporting members;a cross-beam; a series of removable uprights carried by said crossbeam;a bearing-plate carried at the upper end of each of said uprights; andmeans for elevating said crossbeam, whereby the munber of uprights andthe size of the bearingplates may be varied according as the mold ismade larger or smaller, substantially as described.

9. In a molding-machine, the combination of a suitable bed; anadjustable mold mounted thereon; a cross-beam; a series of uprightsdetachably mounted upon said beam; bearingplates carried by the upperends of said up rights; and means for raising and lowering the beam,whereby the number of uprights and the size of the bearing-plates may bevaried according as the mold is made larger or smaller, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a molding-machine, the combination of a suitable bed, havingparallel ways formed thereon; apair of supporting members mounted onsaid ways and movable toward and from each other, said members havingundercut channels in their upper faces; means for securing said membersto the bed; mold. sides having lateral projections, said sides beingmounted and longitudinally movable upon said supporting members; clampscoaeting with said lateral projections and the channels in thesupporting members; mold ends; and means for securingsaid ends and themold sides together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDNVARD L. STEVENSON.

WVitnesses:

J ouN D. FOLLELT. MILTON SA'FER.

